Classical Rhetoric, Contemporary Science and Modern Civil Discourse

An examination of classical scholarship on the use of rhetoric makes clear that there is today a common misconception that the art of rhetoric condones and encourages persuasion by any means necessary. Politics involves passionate commitments and arguments, as well as fundamental disagreements. Rhetoric – persuasive communication – can be employed in ethical or unethical ways, and classical theoreticians reveal an imperative to promote ethical solutions to public discourse.